Portable sign



Jan. 28, 1964 3,119,588

J. B. KEATS PORTABLE SIGN Filed Oct. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet I aaboavoaoeaovaanflflaonaaueqa B INVENTOR.

JOHN B. KEATS ATTORNEYS Jan. 28, 1964 KEATS 3,119,588

PORTABLE SIGN Filed Oct. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOHN B. Kala-rs BY WdM ffim rbwm AT TO RN EYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,119,588 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 3,119,588 PORTABLE SEGN John B. Keats, 3725 W. 38th St., Erie, Pa. Filed Get. 5, 1962, er. No. 229,521 8 Claims. (Cl. 248-158) This invention relates to a portable sign.

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable sign in which the base and the sign-supporting socket member are frabricated of materials which render both the base and member highly resistant to distortion or collapse upon imposition of the weight of a driven wheel thereon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable sign wherein the base lends itself to ready erection on the selected site with the necessary weighting material therein.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable sign wherein there is a coupler on the standard which co-acts with the socket member provided on the supporting base to fixedly secure the standard against accidental release from the socket member and to rigidly retain the standard in the socket member.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a portable sign which is simple in construction, highly efiicient in action, and commercially feasible.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of the portable sign according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, of the portable sign of FIGURE 1, in assembled relation.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the portable sign according to the present invention as a road barricade.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged exploded view, with parts broken away and in section, of the standard coupling and the socket member.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 9 is an elevational View illustrating the bases of the portable sign of this invention in stacked relation.

Referring to the drawings, the portable sign, according to the present invention, comprises a base 10 which is fabricated wholly of a resilient material such as rubber, natural or synthetic, or like material. The base 10, FIG- URES 1 and 5, comprises a flat bottom 12 which is provided on its under face with a ground-engaging surface 14. A wall 16 rises from and extends about the perimeter of the bottom 12. Also, rising from the bottom 12 is a hollow core 18 which is spaced from the wall 16, and has the upper end portion projecting above the upper end of the wall 16. A plurality of upstanding reinforcing ribs are disposed externally in spaced relation about the core 18 and slope downwardly from the core 18 toward and merge into the fiat bottom 12 at the joindure point of the flat bottom 12 with the wall 16. The space between the core 13 and the wall 16 forms a chamber which is open at its top. The core 18, as will be observed in FIGURE 5, is out of communication with the chamber.

A socket member 11 which is fabricated wholly of resilient material like nylon, or the like, is disposed within and is fixedly supported in the core 18, the said material being of a lesser resiliency than the base resilient material. The socket member 11 includes a sleeve 13, and projecting from the lower end of the sleeve is a flange 15. A floor 17 is within the sleeve 13, and extends across the sleeve between the ends thereof. A collar 19 rises from the fioor and is spaced from the sleeve 13 and opens out of the upper end of the sleeve 13. The floor is provided with an aperture 21 for the egress of water which may collect upon the floor when the socket member is in use. The collar 19 is provided with external threads 25, the purpose of which will be subsequently described. The socket member 11 is disposed within the core 18 so that the flange 15 is received within a groove 27 formed in the lower end of the core 18 with the sleeve engaging the core 18 and the collar 19 opening out of the upper end of the projecting core portion. It is to be noted that the sleeve 13 has a plurality of ribs 13 which project externally therefrom and extend longitudinally along its lower end portion, the ribs being received in cooperating grooves 18 formed in the core 18, this rib and groove structure serving to hold the sleeve from rotating within the core.

The weighting material 23, such as water, sand, or similar substances, is disposed within the chamber, and this material is insertable through and withdrawable from the open top of the chamber. Preferably, the chamber is substantially filled to its open top with the weighting material.

A removable cover 24 closes the open top of the chamber, and has its outer boundary detachably embracing the upper end of the wall 16. Specifically, the cover 24 has a depending inturned skirt 26 extending about its perimeter, FIGURE 5, which releasably embraces a lip 28 extending about the upper end of the wall 16. The cover 24 is provided with a central opening 30 which receives and extends snugly about the projecting upper end portion of the core 18 with the part of the cover constituting the wall of the opening seating upon a shoulder 32 provided in the projecting end portion of the core 18. As shown in FIGURE 2, the top of the cover is provided with spaced upstanding knubs 34, here shown three in number, the purpose of which will be subsequently described.

For storing or shipping the bases with the socket members mounted therein, they are each assembled with the cover closing the open top of the chamber, without inserting any weighting material in the chamber. The bases thus assembled are stacked, one upon the other, in the fashion illustrated in FIGURE 9 by placing the flat bottom 12 of the superimposed assembly base 10 upon the cover 24 of the underneath assembled base 10 so that the bottom of the superimposed base rests upon and is supported upon the knubs 34 of the cover 24 of the underneath base 11 The sign-supporting standard 36 is provided for mounting in the socket member 11. Conforrnably shaped to engage the collar 19 and surrounding and fixedly carried by the lower end of the standard 36 is a coupler 38, the coupler 38 being provided with internal threads 40. The standard 36 is disposed so that it extends in a perpendicular direction with respect to the base 11), FIGURES 1 and 2, with :the coupler 38 engaging the collar 19'. Actually, the threads 41 on the coupler 38 are in threaded engagement with the threads 25 on the collar 19. It is to be noted that the threads 40 and 25 on the coupler 38 and collar 19 constitute interengaging means on the coupler and collar.

The standard, as shown in FIGURE 1, comprises a lower section 37 and an upper section 39 which may be telescoped within the lower section 37 and when so telescoped, is held within the section 37 by a removable pin,

(J not shown, extending through the uppermost hole of the opposed rows of holes formed in the section 37 and indicated by the numeral 41. When it is desired to extend the height of the standard, the upper section 39 is withdrawn from the lower section 37 and is then positioned so that the opposed depending lugs 4-2 on the lower end of the section 39 are engaged within the opposed slots 43 formed on the upper end of the section 37, and the upper sec-tion 39 held in mounted position on the section 37 by means of a pin, not shown, passing through the appropriate holes in the opposed rows of holes 41 and the aligned holes in the opposed rows of holes 45 formed in the section 39.

Positioned against the standard 36, FIGURE 2, adjacent the upper end portion thereof is a sign 50, the sign being held in position on the standard 36 by means of replaceable pins 52 passing through aligned holes in the opposed rows of holes 41. Also, as shown in FIGURE 2, the standard 36 has mounted thereon opposed flags 54 which project from opposite sides of the standard 36 adjacent the sign 5d, the flags being held in position on the standard by means of their stems 56 passing through selected opposed holes in the opposed rows of holes 58 also provided in the standard, the holes in each of the rows 58 being of varying sizes.

The portable sign of this invention may be employed in erecting a road barricade, the barricade, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, comprising a pair of portable signs, each including the base 16 and the standard 36 rising from the base, the signs being arranged in lateral-spaced relation and connected together by means of a telescoping crossbar 60 which has its ends releasably engaged in the upper ends of the standards 36.

In the use of the portable sign of this invention, the base with the socket member 11 mounted therein and the cover 24 closing the top of the base, and the standard 36 carrying the coupler 38 on the lower end are delivered to the site for erection. The cover 24 is removed from the base and the chamber filled with the desired amount of weighting material, and the cover then replaced. The base carrying the charge of weighting material is then shifted to the desired location on the site, and then the standard 36 is disposed so that it extends in a perpendicular direction with respect to the base 10, whereupon the coupler is screwed onto the collar 19 until it is tightly held on the collar 19. Signs or flags, or both, may then be mounted on the respective rows of holes on the standard 36.

By virtue of the base being fabricated wholly of resilient material and of the above-described constmction, and of the socket member being fabricated wholly of a rigid flexible material and of the construction above-described, the base, when the sign is in use, if subjected to severe impacting shocks, such as the imposition of the weight of a driven wheel of a heavy vehicle, withstands such shock without distortion or collapse.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable sign, a base fabricated wholly of resilient material and including a flat bottom, a wall rising from and extending about the perimeter of said bottom, and a hollow core rising from said bottom and spaced from said wall and having the upper portion projecting above the upper end of said wall, the space between said core and said wall forming a chamber open at its top, the core being out of communication with said chamber, a weighting material disposed in said chamber and insertable through and withdrawable from the open top of said chamber, a removable cover closing the open top of said chamber and having the outer boundary detachably embracing the upper end of said wall, said cover having a central opening receiving and extending snugly about the projecting upper end portion of said core with the part of the cover constituting the wall of said opening seating upon said projecting core portion, a socket member fabricated wholly of resilient material and disposed within and fixedly supported in said core, said socket member resilient material being of a lesser resiliency than said base resilient material, said socket member having a collar opening out of the upper end of the projecting core portion, a signsupporting standard, a. coupler conformably shaped to engage said collar and surrounding and fixedly carried by the lower end of said standard, said standard being disposed so that it extends in a perpendicular direction with respect to said base with the coupler engaging said collar.

2. The portable sign according to claim 1, which includes in addition interengaging means on the coupler and sleeve.

3. The portable sign according to claim 2, wherein the interengaging means comprises internal threads on said coupler w ich are in threaded engagement with external threads formed on said collar.

The portable sign according to claim 1, wherein said base has a plurality of upstanding reinforcing ribs disposed externally in spaced relation about said core and sloping downwardly from the core and merging into the flat bottom at the joindure point of the fiat bottom with said wall.

5. In a portable sign, a base fabricated wholly of resilient material and including a flat bottom, a wall rising from and extending about the perimeter of said bottom, and a hollow core rising from said bottom and spaced from said wall and having the upper portion projecting above the upper end of said wall, the space between said core and said wall forming a chamber open at its top, the core being out of communication with said chamber, a weighting material disposed in said chamber and insertable through and withdrawable from the open top of said chamber, a removable cover closing the open top of said chamber and having the outer boundary detachably embracing the upper end of said wall, said cover having a central opening receiving and extending snugly about the projecting upper end portion of said core with the part of the cover constituting the wall of said opening seating upon said projecting core portion, a socket member fabricated wholly of resilient material and including a sleeve conformably shaped, to engage said core, said socket member resilient material being of a lesser resiliency than said base resilient material, a flange projecting from the lower end of said sleeve, a floor within and extending across said sleeve intermediate the ends thereof, and a collar rising from said floor and spaced from said sleeve and opening out of the open end of said sleeve, said socket member being disposed within said core so that the flange is received within a groove formed in the lower end of said core with the sleeve engaging said core and the collar opening out of the upper end of the projecting core portion, a sign-supporting standard, a coupler conformably shaped to engage said collar and surrounding and fixedly carried by the lower end of said standard, said standard being disposed so that it extends in a perpendicular direction with respect to said base with the coupler engaging said collar.

6. The portable sign according to claim 5, wherein interengaging means is on said coupler and sleeve, said means comprising internal threads on said coupler which are in threaded engagement with external threads formed on said sleeve.

7. In a portable sign, a base fabricated wholly of resilient material and including a flat bottom provided on its under face with a ground-engaging surface, a wall rising from and extending about the perimeter of said bottom, and a hollow core rising from said bottom and spaced from said wall and having the upper portion projecting above the upper end of said wall, a plurality of upstanding reinforcing ribs disposed externally in spaced relation about said core and sloping downwardly from the core toward and merging into the flat bottom at the joindure point of the flat bottom with said wall, the space heen on,"

tween said core and said wall forming a chamber open at its top, the core being out of communication with said chamber, a removable cover closing the open top of said chamber and having the outer boundary detachably embracing the upper end of said wall, said cover having a central opening receiving and extending snugly about the projecting upper end portion of said core with the part of the cover constituting the wall of said opening seating upon said projecting core portion, and a socket member fabricated Wholly of resilient material and disposed Within and fixedly supported in said core, said socket member resilient material being of a lesser resiliency than said base resilient material, said socket member having a collar opening out of the upper end of the projecting core portion.

8. In a portable sign, a base fabricated wholly of resilient material and including a flat bottom provided on its under face with a ground-engaging surface, a Wall rising from and extending about the perimeter of said bottom, and a hollow core rising from said bottom and spaced from said wall and having the upper portion projecting above the upper end of said wall, a plurality of upstanding reinforcing ribs disposed externally in spaced relation about said core and sloping downwardly from the core toward and merging into the flat bottom at the joindure point of the flat bottom with said wall, the space between said core and said wall forming a chamber open at its top, the core being out of communication with said chamber, a removable cover closing the open top of said chamber and having the outer boundary detachably embracing the upper end of said wall, said cover having a central opening receiving and extending snugly about the projecting upper end portion of said core with the part of the cover constituting the wall of said opening seating upon said projecting core portion, and a socket member fabricated Wholly of resilient material and including a sleeve conformably shaped to engage said core, said socket member resilient material being of a lesser resiliency than said base resilient material, a flange projecting from the lower end of said sleeve, a floor within and extending across said sleeve intermediate the ends thereof, and a collar rising from said floor and spaced from said sleeve and opening out of the upper end of said sleeve, said socket member being disposed Within said core so that the flange is received within a groove formed in the lower end of said core with the sleeve engaging said core and the collar opening out of the upper end of the projecting core portion.

No references cited. 

1. IN A PORTABLE SIGN, A BASE FABRICATED WHOLLY OF RESILIENT MATERIAL AND INCLUDING A FLAT BOTTOM, A WALL RISING FROM AND EXTENDING ABOUT THE PERIMETER OF SAID BOTTOM, AND A HOLLOW CORE RISING FROM SAID BOTTOM AND SPACED FROM SAID WALL AND HAVING THE UPPER PORTION PROJECTING ABOVE THE UPPER END OF SAID WALL, THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID CORE AND SAID WALL FORMING A CHAMBER OPEN AT ITS TOP, THE CORE BEING OUT OF COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER, A WEIGHTING MATERIAL DISPOSED IN SAID CHAMBER AND INSERTABLE THROUGH AND WITHDRAWABLE FROM THE OPEN TOP OF SAID CHAMBER, A REMOVABLE COVER CLOSING THE OPEN TOP OF SAID CHAMBER AND HAVING THE OUTER BOUNDARY DETACHABLY EMBRACING THE UPPER END OF SAID WALL, SAID COVER HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING RECEIVING AND EXTENDING SNUGLY ABOUT THE PROJECTING UPPER END PORTION OF SAID CORE WITH THE PART OF THE COVER CONSTITUTING THE WALL OF SAID OPENING SEATING UPON SAID PROJECTING CORE PORTION, A SOCKET MEMBER FABRIATED WHOLLY OF RESILIENT MATERIAL AND DISPOSED WITHIN AND FIXEDLY SUPPORTED IN SAID CORE, SAID SOCKET MEMBER RESILIENT MATERIAL BEING OF A LESSER RESILIENCY THAN SAID BASE RESILIENT MATERIAL, SAID SOCKET MEMBER HAVING A COLLAR OPENING OUT OF THE UPPER END OF THE PROJECTING CORE PORTION, A SIGNSUPPORTING STANDARD, A COUPLER CONFORMABLY SHAPED TO ENGAGE SAID COLLAR AND SURROUNDING AND FIXEDLY CARRIED BY THE LOWER END OF SAID STANDARD, SAID STANDARD BEING DISPOSED SO THAT IT EXTENDS IN A PERPENDICULAR DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE WITH THE COUPLER ENGAGING SAID COLLAR. 